Liposarcoma, Mediastinal

Synonyms

None

Definition

Liposarcomas may occur either in the anterior or the posterior mediastinum (Hahn and Fletcher 2007; Klimstra et al. 1995; Ortega et al. 2014). Tumors of the anterior mediastinum may grow in intimate association with the thymus. Presenting symptoms are related to compression exerted by a tumor on the adjacent anatomic structures; they include shortness of breath as well as cough or palpitation. However about one third of cases are discovered incidentally. Like lipomas, liposarcomas have also been described in obese patients with systemic lipomatosis.

Clinical Features

Incidence

Exact figures are not available; however, MLS are considered uncommon tumors accounting for less than 1% of all mediastinal tumors.

Age

Patients are mostly adults, with rare cases documented in the pediatric age.

Sex

No sex predilection.

Site

Commonly seen in the anterior mediastinum; however, cases have been recently described in the posterior sector.